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The boxer Yordenis Ugás, recognized for his activism against the Havana regime, spoke out strongly after learning that the United States denied humanitarian visa to the Cuban boy Jorgito Reina Llerena, an eight-year-old diagnosed with leukemia and awaiting a bone marrow transplant in Florida.
"Incredible, and they grant visas all the time to any communist, opportunist who comes to this country. A matter of life or death. A child fighting for his life," Ugás wrote on his Facebook page.
The boxer expressed his outrage over what he sees as a double standard in U.S. immigration policy: the almost immediate access that, according to him, those linked to Castroism receive, while urgent humanitarian cases like Jorgito's remain in bureaucratic limbo.
"This is why many people get upset when they see someone like that with their charming face arriving at the airport," he indicated, referring to officials or supporters of the Cuban government who manage to enter the United States.
Her own experience with her mother's case
Ugás took the opportunity to recall the difficulties he himself faced when he tried to bring his mother, Milagros, from Cuba.
He explained that he went to the office of then-Senator Marco Rubio - now Secretary of State - to manage the reunification process, but immigration authorities dismissed his case.
"Finally, USCIS said that my claim case was not urgent, despite health issues, despite being an activist and a voice in our community against the dictatorship. One day she fell ill and I had to take her out of Cuba in a wheelchair," he recounted.
The drama of Jorgito, a boy caught between Cuba and the U.S.
The case that sparked Ugás's outrage is that of Jorgito Reina Llerena, a young boy from Havana diagnosed in 2019 with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. After several relapses and aggressive treatments, his only chance for survival is a bone marrow transplant, a procedure that is not performed in Cuba.
His father, a resident of Florida, has been making efforts for years to bring him to the U.S. He even managed to get the Nicklaus Children Hospital in Miami to commit to performing the transplant and launched a fundraising campaign to cover travel and visa expenses.
In 2023, U.S. authorities denied the child a tourist visa.
In 2024, following the direct intervention of Marco Rubio, USCIS assured the family that the case would be "priority". However, at the beginning of this month, it was confirmed that the humanitarian visa was denied.
The argument: with the evidence presented, Jorgito "does not qualify for humanitarian parole." A decision that leaves the child trapped in Cuba, without access to the treatment that could save his life.
A painful contrast
For Ugás, the denial of the visa to Jorgito reflects the insensitivity of a system that, according to him, fails at the most fundamental level.
The frustration of the boxer connects with his personal story: the long wait to reunite with his mother, the sense of dislocation, and the constant denunciation of what he considers injustices from both the Cuban regime and the American bureaucracy.
Milagros was finally able to arrive in the United States in 2024, after nearly a decade of separation.
Since then, he has publicly shared the joy of family celebrations that were denied to them for years due to the forced separation of exile.
Meanwhile, Jorgito's family continues to wait for a miracle: that USCIS's decision can be reviewed or reversed, and that the little one makes it to the Miami hospital in time for the transplant.
"The child continues to wait for the therapy that could save his life," the family summarizes.
Frequently Asked Questions about the case of Jorgito Reina Llerena and the criticisms from Yordenis Ugás
Why was humanitarian visa denied to Jorgito Reina Llerena?
The humanitarian visa was denied because U.S. authorities determined that Jorgito "does not qualify for humanitarian parole" based on the evidence submitted. Despite the intervention of Marco Rubio and the USCIS's commitment to prioritize the case, the necessary visa for the child to receive a bone marrow transplant in the United States was not approved.
What is Yordenis Ugás's criticism of the U.S. immigration policy?
Yordenis Ugás criticized the immigration policy of the United States, arguing that there is a double standard. Ugás points out that visas are granted to individuals linked to Castroism while urgent humanitarian cases like Jorgito's remain unresolved. This criticism is rooted in his personal experience and the frustration he feels when seeing life-or-death situations not receiving the proper attention.
What actions has Jorgito's family taken to obtain the visa?
Jorgito's family has made multiple efforts to obtain the necessary visa. The child's father, a resident of Florida, has contacted Marco Rubio's office for support and has launched a fundraising campaign to cover travel expenses and medical treatment in Miami. Despite these efforts, the humanitarian visa has been denied, leaving the child in a critical situation.
How has Yordenis Ugás' activism impacted the Cuban community?
Yordenis Ugás has been a prominent figure in Cuban activism, using his platform to denounce injustices and support various causes. His activism has resonated within the Cuban community, inspiring both support and debate. Ugás has been a constant critic of the Cuban regime and has shown empathy towards cases of family separation and human rights violations, becoming an influential voice within the Cuban exile community.
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